Pressure casting machine



March 29,1938.V w. M. LESTER 2,112,342 l PRESSURE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1955, 5 Sheets-Sheet l March `29, 1938. W M LEB-TER 2,132,342

PRESSURE CASTING MACHINE 1l A BY ATTORNEY@ Marh29,193s. l 'WQMLESTER 2,112,342

PRESSURE CASTING MACHINE Filed Feb. "7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

QMMC@ ATTORNE .5;

vPatented Mar. 29, i938 PATENT DFFICE 2,112,342 lPRESSURE CASTING MACHINE William M. Lester,

signor to Lester E land, Ohio, a

shaker Heights, ohio, as-

Company, Cleve? corporation of Ohio Application February 7, 1935, SerialiNo. 5,438

'l Claims. (Cl. 22-92) The present invention relates to a machine for forming metals, originally in a fluid or plastic -iorm, in a permanent mold whose contour conforms to that of the desired nished article. More particularly my invention is applicable to the pressure casting of relatively high melting point metals and materials.

Some of the more definite objects oi the invention are to provide a machine: wherein the metal is forced into the permanent mold or die by the shortest possible route; wherein the entrapment or occlusion oi air or` gas in the metal or casting is substantially eliminated; wherein the temperature and the transfer oi heat to the halves oi the die or mold are substantially equal; wherein the means for forcing the metal under pressure into the mold is separate from the mold d thereby may be maintained at a relatively higher n perature without transierrins its heat to the lat.

ter between casting operations; wherein an aua.- iliary pressure means is provided ior apple an additional casting pressure upon the metal in the mold after the primary pressure means h introduced the metal thereto, accurate and clean-cut casting conto l every contour of the mold and further producing a greater rennement of the grain structure oi the cast metal.

Additional objects oi the invention are: to provide a toggle linls mechanism for open and closing the die plates supporting the mold or die blocks wherein the amount oi movement oi the respective die plates may be adjustably regulated; to provide a more compact form oi hyulie actuating mechanism ior such toggle link mechanism wherein a movable cylinder coopera with a fixed piston; to provide means whereby the distance of one of the die plates with respect to the moving mechanism maybe adjustably repulated in order to accommodate the dlderence in sizes of interchanged die blocks; and to provide means cooperating with the movement of such cylinder whereby Vthere is obtained a large auto matic ejection of the casting. Additional objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment oi the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists oi the means hereinafter fully described and particu larly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying` the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. i is an elevational sectioned view oi a pressure casting machine illustrating an embodiment of the principle of the invention wherein the mold or die block is in closed position; Fig. 2 is a `view similar to Fig. i but wherein the mold or die blocks are in open position; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectioned view oi an alternative form oi construction of the link mechanism; Fie'. d is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the link mechanism in collapsed msition; Fis. 5 is a sectional view taken upon a plane normal to that oi Fis'. i and substantially along line ll-d thereoi; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View illustrating an alternative form oiy construction wherein an auxiliary cylinder and piston are employed to supplement the action oi the main cylinder and piston.

Now referring more rticularly to the drawings, and Figs. l andZ thereoi, there is shown a. base l having the upstanding supports i and i in vthe upper ends ci which the horizontal supporting bar l is-slidably carried. It will be uriderstood that there are two ci these supporting bars i, hut only one oi which is illustrated in Figs. i and 2. Die plates t and t are mounted upon the supporting bars and are also connected to an additional pair oi upper supporting bars or tie rods l. The die plate t is slidable upon the supporting bars il and l, and the die plate l is secured to such bars by` means oi' suitable fasten-` ers such as the nuts t and s. The die plates 5 and ii each carry the respective halves it and il oi the die block or mold. The parting line IZ of the mold, which is also the meeting iace of the die block halves it and li is enlarged as at i3 where it registers with the open end of the pressure casting cylinder it. l

A piston it is positioned within thepressure casting cylinder it and is connected by means of the rod iB to the piston il which in turn is mounted within the hydraulic cylinder I8. Tie bars ,it connect the cylinder i8 to the machine hase l. Hydraulic pressure inlets vand outlets, only one oi which is shown as at 20, lead to a pressure source whereby iiuld such as oil under high pressure may be admitted to either end oi the cylinder i8 and thereby operate the piston il and its connected pressure casting piston i5.

The interior 2l oi the piston I5 is hollow and occupied by a baiile stripv 22 which effects the circulation of a cooling medium such as water circulated through the flexible connections 23 and 24 on the side of the piston |5. t

The lleft hand ends, or the ends of the rods 4 and 1 which are opposite to the die plate 8 are secured to the plate 25 by means oi the nuts 28. A piston rod 21 is also connected to the tie plate 25 by means of the nuts 28 and 29. The piston rod 21 carries the piston 30 on its outer end. The piston v3l) is of course in a lxed position and is enclosed by the movable cylinder 3|. Laterally projecting lugs 32 on the sideof the cylinder 3| connect the latter by means of the links 33 to the movable pivots of a dual toggle link mechanism. This latter mechanism consists oi' the links 34 pivotally connected to the end of the projections 35 o'n the tie plate 25, and also pivotally connected to the links 38, which latter links connect as at 31 to the movable ,plate 38. The plate-38, it will be understood, is carried by the tie bars 4 and 1 and is free to slide thereon.

A screw jack mechanism connects the die plate 5 to the movable plate 38. This die plate mechaniSm consists of a'hollow cylindrical member 39 whose outer Wall carries a screw thread 40 threadably engaging with the movable plate 38. The right hand end ofthe cylindrical member v39 is rotatably secured to the die plate 5 by means of the shoulder 4| which is held in place by an abutment ring 42. Suitable fastening studs 43 secure the ring 42 to the body of the die plate 5. A shaft 44 (Fig. 5) is journalled inl the die plate 5 and vcarries a worm 45 which in turn meshes with the worm gear track 46 on the exterior of the end of the-cylindrical member 38. A crank arm 41 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 44 and serves as means for manually rotating the shaft 44 and the worm 45. A bracket 48 is secured to the die plate 5 and carries a split sleeve 49 surrounding the shaft 44, and which by means oi' a suitable clamp screw (not shown) vand threaded through the sleeve 49 as at 5|), serves the purpose of clamping the shaft 44 against rotation.

The right hand form of a piston 5| which travels in the interior of the cylinder member 39. 'I'he other end of the cylinder 3| is of course carried by the piston rod 21.

Fluid pressure conduits 52 and sa lead from the outer left hand end of the piston rod 21 and comthe end of the stroke illustrated in the position of Fig. 2.

-A bar 6| is secured to the vertical support 2 by means of fastening nuts 52 and 83. 5| extends through openings in downwardly depending projections 64 and 65 on the tie plate 25 and the movable plate 38 respectively. The majority of the right hand portion of the bar 6| is threaded and double lock nuts 66 and 61 are threaded thereon and serve as limit stops for the movement of the movable plate 38. A nut 88 threadably engages the left hand end of the rod 6| and limits the left hand movement of the tie plate 25.

'I'he operation of the apparatus above described is as follows:

At the beginning of the cycle of operations the respective parts are in the position as shown in end of the cylinder 3| is in the y The bar- Fig. 2. A quantity of molten metal which is to be cast is ladled into the open end of the cylinder I4.

the die blocks or mold halves 0 and are opened4 to free the resultant casting C.

plates be moved to diiferent positions with respect to the end of the cylinder |4 when in open position. Such a regulation of the the lock nuts 68 are moved to a position furtherl to the right on the barsl with the result that the movable plate 38 will be stopped sooner provide a eiecting action, struction illustrated in Figs. 3

large autothe form of connected to the movable plate 38'.

Ejector pins 15 and 16 extend through the die plate 5 and into the interior of the hollow screw j ack 39. An mteriorly threaded member 11 pro- Thus, when the die plate 5' is moved to open position as shown in Fig. 4, the abutment plate 19 moves into the interior of the hollow cylinder 39', and contacts with the end o1' the ejector pins and 4 may be em tinctly claim as mysinvention:

.or the main pressure blnation o! a pair extending fromv the hrst ot said plates to a posi- -der being slidably supported on the rod of said l5 and 16 to force the latter in a right hand iirection and thereby to eject the casting from the mold. Rotation of the screw Jack $9 in order to regu-late the position of the dieOplate l' with respect to the movable plate 3S' will be transmitted to' the rod 1l to thereby rotate the latter's threaded engagement with respect to' the member 11 and to automatically regulate the position of the abutment-plate 19 with respect to the e'nd of the movable cylinder 3 i In the alternative form of construction shown in Fig. 6 a small high-pressure auxiliary casting cylinder B6 is provided in the wall ofthe die plate 8. A piston U6 operates in this cylinder Il.'

the open end of whi h communicates by means of,

the vpassage 81 to a point adjacent the open end is connected to the hydraulic pressure I. in the cylinder- 89.

` In the operation of the last described form of construction, the main pressure `casting piston IB will be operated to first force the metal into the' mold, and remain or lock sure casting stroke, and then piston 8 8 will be actuated in order tional pressure on the metal in the mold vand thereby to insure contactjoi the metal with all points of the mold and also to produce a rennement oi' grain structure in the casting due to the exertion of such additional pressure.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechathe small auxiliary to apply addimsm herein disclosed, provided the means stated following. claims or.the equivalent by any oi the of such stated means be employed. I therefore particularly point 1. In a pressure casting machine, the .com-

oi die plates. supporting bars tion beyondthe other, toggle link mechanism connected to one end to a screw second die plate.-

2. In a pressure 4bination oi a'lmcvable die plate. movabiy supporting said 'die plate,a screw lack carried by said supporting means for regulating the distance oi said die plate with respect to said supporting means, worm and gear means connected to said screw jack, and operating means for said worm and gear operable from the exterior lack, the latter carrying said casting machine, the commeans for vof said machine.

3. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of movable die lates, a toggle link mecha` nism adapted to move said plates. saidA link mechanism comprising an end' xed to a tie plate and laterally movable elemen a cylinder connected to said laterally movable elements.` a piston in said cylinder having its rod end connected to said tie plate whereby relative movement between said cylinder and piston operates to collapse and ex-4 tend said link mechanism. one end ci said cylindie plate, said cylinder i4. The piston piston at the end oi its-presout and diswhereby rotation of the latter end oi said bars andat the other.

stops attached to the base of piston, and av guide member carried by the other en d of said link mechanism for supporting the other end of said cylinder.

4. .In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a pair of die plates, supporting bars extending Irom the ilrst o! said plates to a position beyond the other, a toggle link mechanism connected to one end of said bars andat the other end to a screw jack, the latter carrying said second link mechanism including laterally movable elements, a cylinder connected to the laterallyv movable elements of said link mecha-` nism, a piston in said cylinder and having its yrodend connected to said supporting bars, said cylinder' being slidably supported at one end on the rod of said piston and slidably .supported at the other end in the interior of said screw jack.

5. In a .pressure casting machine, the combination of a pair of die plates, supporting bars extending from the rst of said plates to a position beyond the other, a toggle link mechanism connjecd to one end of said bars and' at 'the other.

end to a screw Jack, the latter carrying said sec# ond die plate, saidy link 4mechanism including laterally movable elements. a cylinder connected to the laterally movable elements of said link mechanism, a piston in` said cylinder having its rod end connected to said' supporting bars, said cylinder being slidabiy supported at one end in the interior oi said screw jack. the interior of said screw jack being hollow, casting ejector pins extending into the interior of said screw Jack, and a member threadably attached to the end o! said 'cylinder and adapted to contact with said ejectorv pins,'said member being slidably and non-rotatably attached to the interior o! said screw jack operates to regulate` the position of said member with respect to the end of said cylinder.

6. In E pressure casting machine, the combination o! a, pair oi.' die plates, supporting bars extending Irom the first of said plates to a position beyond the second, toggle link mechanism connected at one end to said bars and at the other end to said second die plate, andl means or limit'- ing the 4movement oi'. said. second die plate and adapted to. cause additional movement of said toggle link mechanism to be transmitted through said supporting bars to said tlrst die plate.

'1. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a pair 'of die plates, supporting bars 'extending fromthe rst of said plates to a position beyond the second, link'mechanismconnected at one end to said bars and at the other 'end -to limiting the movement of said second die' plate and adapted to cause additional movement oi saidy toggle link mechanism to be transmitted through said supporting bars to said `iirst die .wrmAMM. 

